Jury deadlocked in Keith Washington civil trial

New date scheduled in January

After four days of testimony and two days of deliberation, a jury deadlocked Tuesday in the multimillion-dollar civil trial of a former Prince George's County homeland security official who was convicted of shooting two deliverymen in his Accokeek home in 2007.

Keith Washington, 47, is serving a 45-year prison term for shooting two Marlo Furniture deliverymen — killing one and injuring the other — who had come to his home Jan. 24, 2007, to exchange bedroom furniture.

Brandon Clark, 22, died 10 days later in a hospital from his wounds, and Robert White, 37, survived and later testified against Washington in the criminal trial.

The jury in the civil trial was unable to reach a verdict, and a new trial has been scheduled for Jan. 25, said Michael J. Winkelman, a Bowie attorney representing Clark's family and White.

In January 2008, Clark's parents and White filed the lawsuit, seeking $20 million each from Washington and the county, citing emotional suffering caused by treatment of the families after the incident.

During the criminal trial, prosecutors said Washington shot the two men without reason, while Washington's lawyers claimed White and Clark were beating Washington and he shot in self-defense.

In the civil trial, the plaintiffs alleged Washington was acting as a member of the Prince George's County Police Department or a member of the county government when he shot the men, and that he was given special treatment during the investigation due to his prominent position.

Winkelman said in court documents that county officials allowed Washington to remain working for the county police force and government after medical reports "determined that his inability to handle the stress of regular police work made him a potential danger" and therefore the county is also responsible.

Washington was convicted in February of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of using a handgun. A jury found him not guilty of second-degree murder and six other charges, and he was sentenced in May by Circuit Court Judge Michael Whalen.